Parenting Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder during the COVID-19 Pandemic

• In Event: Poster Session 04
  In Poster Session: PS 04 Topic - Developmental Disabilities

Abstract

Introduction: Parents of children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) generally experience increased levels of stress and mental health problems compared to parents of children without a disability. Families were affected by the COVID-19 pandemic as parents adopted new roles, such as teacher, while continuing to balance their roles as employees, parents, and spouses. Indeed, COVID-19 stressors have been connected to high parental stress in families of neurotypical children (Brown et al., 2020). Parents of children with ASD face additional stressors as their child’s therapy services were shut down. Moreover, children with ASD often have difficulties coping with disruptions to routines and the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted both school and home routines. This longitudinal study examined the extent to which pandemic-related experiences within the family, such as increased parental responsibility, were related to mental health outcomes for parents of children with ASD during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Methods: This study is part of a larger, longitudinal study of families of children with ASD that started prior to the COVID-19 pandemic. Parents were contacted to complete an online survey two times (April and July 2020); 93 families completed at least one survey. A third survey is planned for October 2020 when schools resume in-person teaching. The surveys assessed parenting experiences during the pandemic as well as stress, anxiety, and depression.

Results: In April, 2020, mothers reported a greater increase in parenting responsibilities compared to fathers, t(42)=2.18, p<.05, as well as higher anxiety, t(42)=3.76, p=.001, and depressive symptoms, t(42)=2.03, p<.05. There were no significant differences in perceived stress. Similar patterns were found in the July 2020 follow-up survey; however, mothers reported significantly higher levels of stress compared to fathers, t(36)=2.17, p<.05. From April to July, there were no significant changes in mothers’ reports of their parenting responsibilities, depressive symptoms, and stress. Maternal anxiety significantly decreased from April to July, t(73)=2.39, p<.05. In the same period, fathers reported a significant increase in their parenting responsibilities, t(34)=-2.09, p<.05. Mothers’ increase in parenting responsibilities was associated with increased anxiety, r=.27, p<.01, depressive symptoms, r=.35, p=.001, and perceived stress, r=.39, p<.001. For fathers, there were no significant associations between increased parenting responsibilities and mental health.

We expect to complete a third wave of data collection in October, 2020 once districts offer in-person classes. We will conduct longitudinal analyses to examine changes in parenting responsibilities and mental health outcomes.

Implications: Our preliminary results suggest that mothers were more adversely impacted in the weeks immediately following the nationwide shutdown compared to fathers. As lockdowns were eased, mothers reported a decline in anxiety symptoms and fathers parenting responsibilities began to increase. This is the first known study to longitudinally examine how families of children with ASD were functioning during the COVID-19 pandemic. Our follow-up will allow us to chart trajectories across the pandemic. The findings have implications for the development of services directed to families of children with ASD. For example, focusing on parent mental health and assisting with parenting responsibilities (e.g., remote respite care) may benefit both parents and their children.

Authors

• Madeline Jane Filippi, Texas Christian University
  Presenting Author

• Naomi Ekas, Texas Christian University
  Non-Presenting Author

• Chrystyna D Kouros, Southern Methodist University
  Non-Presenting Author

• Julianne Hymel
  Non-Presenting Author

• Alyssa Haley Alanis, Texas Christian University
  Non-Presenting Author